fouronthefloor

Four on the floor, often written as four-on-the-floor or fouronthefloor, is a term in music describing a rhythm in which the bass drum hits on every beat of a 4/4 measure. This steady kick-drum pattern creates a strong sense of pulse and is a hallmark of many dance-oriented genres.

Origins and usage: The pattern emerged in disco contexts of the 1970s and was popularized in house, techno, and other electronic dance music from the 1980s onward. It is commonly combined with a snare or clap on the 2nd and 4th beats, and with closed hi-hat patterns on the off-beats, producing a driving, danceable groove.

Technical aspects: In live drumming and sequencing, four-on-the-floor is typically implemented by placing a kick drum on all four beats per bar in 4/4 time. While the basic pattern is simple, producers often vary it with kick substitutions, accents, or sidechain compression to fit the track's energy. The tempo range is broad but commonly sits between roughly 110 and 130 BPM in club music, though it appears at higher tempos in trance and techno.

Other uses: The phrase is widely used as a descriptor for the style and for band or project names. Various musical acts have adopted "Four on the Floor" or the single word variant as a name or album title, though there is no single canonical entity associated with the term.

See also: Kick drum, 4/4 time, disco, house music, techno, dance music.